Tour to get 13-16 year-olds into engineering

The interactive tour is coming to Westhill, Alford and Aboyne Academies

Published:09:21Saturday 20 October 2012

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Westhill, Alford and Aboyne Academies are included in a ‘Be a Part of Engineering Construction,’ tour next month.

The ECITB (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board) tour aims to help attract 60,000 more people into engineering construction over the next ten years. The schools tour, will be visiting the three Aberdeenshire schools with its interactive, theatre in education roadshow, designed for students aged 13 to 16.

The tour, which visits around 150 STEM schools (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) across the country each year, aims to increase the awareness of the engineering construction industry and focus on the importance of the industry in young peoples lives.

Students will have the opportunity to find out about the career routes available in engineering construction and the apprenticeship opportunities on offer. The use of interactive presentations, multi-media and surprise celebrity guests are all used to engage with the students and to talk to them about the many benefits of starting a career in the industry.

David Edwards, Chief Executive, said: “The tour initiative is designed to raise the awareness of engineering construction careers. It is an innovative and exciting way to engage with young people. The engineering construction industry is in the position to be able to offer exciting and well paid careers to young people. Our latest manpower forecasts show that a 30 per cent growth in manpower is needed to attract 60,000 more skilled workers, across all our sectors over the next ten years. It is vital to the future of engineering construction in this country that we raise awareness of the industry with young people.”

As part of the roadshow, teachers are provided with careers teaching support. Lesson one, carried out with the students before attending the roadshow, introduces students to the idea of skill sets, highlights the link between skills sets and career opportunities.

This year the video features Jason Bradbury, host of The Gadget Show US and The Gadget Show UK. If you’re interested in having a look at the ECITB Schools Tour in action or sending a photographer along please contact The tour comes to Westhill Academy on November 9, Alford on the 14th and Aboyne on the 15th.